Kosovan attacking midfielder Kurtaj (24) and Albanian international left-back Kurakins (25) have signed two-year deals, while strikers Nade (30) is on a year’s contract and Morris (19) is on loan from Norwich until January.

Canning said: “All through the summer we’ve been actively trying to get players in to replace the ones we lost last season, and it has been a lot of hard work, a lot of watching, a lot of DVDs, CVs and things, and the important thing was about identifying the right people. We’ve been lucky enough to bring quite a few of them in to have a wee look at, they’re all great characters and, ability-wise, they will all do well in this squad.

“We lost Tony Andreu, Mickael Antoine Curier, Jason Scotland and Stephen Hendrie, and we’ve brought in Christian, Carlton, Anton and Gramoz, so we’ve kind of recruited like for like.

“We wanted to identify guys that can improve the squad and there is no doubt we’ve done that. We want good characters that are the right type and have the ability.

“You want hungry players and the right types, and everybody who has come in is definitely the right type. They’re all hungry, ambitious and are desperate to do well, which is exactly the same as this club.

“Every one of them has a lot to offer, it has been great for us, and the club have done their work in terms of getting the deals done, so it has been a real team effort in getting them in, and I’m glad that they’re here.

“I think we’ve worked it well and I hope the guys hit the ground running and get off to a good start.”

Canning says he’s not necessarily finished in the transfer market, but said he will be looking towards the club’s youth as well.

He said: “There are still one or two that we’re looking at, and if they come off they will be good signings as well. If we get them we get them, if we don’t, we have a strong squad there, we’ve added well, so we’ll see how that develops.

“It’s about trying to get strength and depth. If you look towards the end of last season a lot of young players started to come through and we will continue to push them as hard as we can. It’s about having the right blend of experience and youth, and allowing them to continue to develop.

“For us it’s so important that the youth players continue to develop, so they will get their opportunity throughout the season as well.”

Hamilton today (Thursday) head for a pre-season trip to Malta, where they will play games against Floriana and Sliema Wanderers before returning on July 23.